Nursing bottle device



8 6, 5- I w. D. FORBES 2,010,258

NURSING BOTTLE DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 16. 1931 INVENTOR, WALTER D. Foneas Patented Aug. 6, 1935 2,010,253 NURSING BOTTLE DEVICE Walter B. Forbes, San Francisco, Calif.

Original application September 16, 1931, Serial Divided and this application October 24, 1932, Serial No. 639,385

3 Claims.

This is a divisional application of my application Serial No. 563,101, filed September 16, 1931, and the invention relates to nursing bottles as used for feeding milk to babies, and in particular to the so-called sanitary nursing bottles which are of a substantially uniform diameter without constricted neck and with a large opening on top to facilitate washing.

The objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the rubber nipples may be easily applied over the mouth of such bottles.

Nursing bottles of the character under consideration are about 2 inches in diameter and formed with a lip around the upper open end, and over which lip it is necessary to stretch a gum rubber nipple after the bottle has been filled with milk. The application of this nipple is difficult, as the rubber is very tough and hard to stretch or work over the bottle with the fingers, so that frequently the bottle is upset and the milk spilled in applying the nipple.

The device of the invention is designed for the particular purpose of applying these nipples to the bottle with no effort and no danger of upsetting the bottle.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my preferred form of device shown with nipple and bottle in position for applying.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

In further detail (Figs. 1 and 2) l is the common form of sanitary nursing bottle and 2 is a vertical section of the rubber nipple to be applied. This nipple is positioned within an applicator device here shown as made of wire, though it may be made of metal of any desired section. The applicator consists of a ring 3 of stout wire of a diameter to easily pass over the bottle, and depending from which ring is a plurality of spring wire arms 4 which are preferably given a turn around the wire of the ring and secured thereto as by solder. The arms 4 extend downwardly and inwardly, are flared outwardly at their lower ends as at 5 so as to overlie the edge of the bottle, and then turn upwardly to form a series of fingers 6 to support the lower edge of the rubber nipple 2 while engaging its inner margin at a plurality of spaced points therearound.

The arms and fingers are shown as made of one piece of wire so that one will brace the other and prevent accidental individual displacement, though they will work for the purpose intended even if not so connected.

It should be noted that the arms extend up past the inner line of the wire ring 3 so that,

when the applicator is pushed downwards, as by a sharp blow with the palm of the hand across the top of the ring, it will pass smoothly by the rim or lip I of the bottle without interference, and in so doing the rubber nipple will be auto- 5 matically stretched outwardly at the points of engagement of the fingers and deposited in place on top of the bottle firmly engaging the lip. The applicator is then slid right down over the bottle and ofi. 10

This wire form of applicator also forms a useful stand in which to support either a fresh sterilized bottle or a nipple preparatory to feeding the infant.

With this device the application of the nipple is a simple operation requiring but a moments time and no effort.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A nursing nipple applicator comprising a horizontal ring provided with a row of spaced spring arms depending therefrom arranged to embrace a nipple in upright position within the row, nipple supporting means on the arms adjacent their lower ends arranged and adapted to engage the nipple at its lower edge, means on the arms formed to engage the edge of the mouth of a nursing bottle at spaced points therearound and arranged and adapted to cause the arms to be forced outwardly upon moving the applicator downwardly over the bottle whereby the nipple is stretched over the bottle mouth, said nipple supporting means being adapted to release the nipple for depositing the same on the bottle upon continued downward movement of the applicator and the ring being of a diameter to easily pass the bottle therethrough.

2. A nursing nipple applicator comprising a horizontal ring provided with a row of spaced spring arms convergently depending therefrom 40 arranged and adapted to embrace a nipple in upright position within the row, nipple supporting means on the arms adjacent their lower ends arranged and adapted to engage the nipple at its lower edge, means on the arms below the nipple supporting means formed to engage the edge of the mouth of a nursing bottle at spaced points therearound and arranged and adapted to cause the arms to be forced outwardly upon moving the applicator downwardly over the bottle whereby the nipple is stretched over the bottle mouth,

said nipple supporting means being adapted to release the nipple for depositing the same on the bottle upon continued downward movement of .55

the applicator and the ring being of a diameter to easily pass the bottle therethrough.

3. A nursing nipple applicator comprising a horizontal ring provided with a row of spaced spring arms depending therefrom arranged to embrace a nipple in upright position within the row, nipple supporting means on the arms adjacent their lower ends arranged and adapted to engage the nipple at its lower edge and to support the nipple below the plane'of the ring, means on the arms adjacent the nipple supporting means formed to engage the edge of the mouth of a nursing bottle at spaced points therearound and arranged and adapted to cause the arms to be forced outwardly upon moving the applicator downwardly over the bottle whereby the nipple is stretched over the bottle mouth, said nipple supporting means being adapted to release the nipple for depositing the same on the bottle upon continued downward movement of the applicator and the ring being of a diameter to easily pass the bottle therethrough.

WALTER D. FORBES. 

